Russian Defense Ministry announced that Russian warships have launched cruise missile attack from Caspian Sea in a strike against ISIL positions in Syria and hit 11 targets over 1,500 kilometers away in Syria.

Russian warships joined in strikes in Syria with a volley of cruise missile attacks on Wednesday as Russian President Vladimir Putin pledged his air force would back a ground offensive by government forces.

Putin said Russian efforts "will be synchronized with the actions of the Syrian army on the ground and the actions of our air force will effectively support the offensive operation of the Syrian army", at a televised meeting with Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu.

In a sign that Russia was ramping up its involvement, Shoigu said that four Russian warships had hit sites in Syria on Wednesday with cruise missiles.

"In addition to the air force, four warships of the Caspian flotilla have been involved," Shoigu said, adding that the warships had carried out 26 cruise missile strikes against 11 targets.

A military spokesman told Russian news wires that the strikes from the warships had hit positions of ISIL and Al-Qaeda affiliate Al-Nusra Front; AFP reported.